Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-15

"What and lose the chance OF be-
ing called the Alligator King i
shouted. "Think OF wallipg in New
York harbor and devoting it to allige-
torculture ! Alligator meat and ALI
gator SOUP And tonneries for the
skinsl Think of the wealth, The fame,
in store for us Hundreds OF baby NJ
ligators bursting the shell at once J
He was listening. very attentively
now, and so were the other men.
Gan friends ?" said ], winklng at
him and waving my hand in their di-
rection.
"AIl friends" he repeated; but /
noticed he looked queer and The other
men looked queer. lie began to play
with o little knob on The wal beside
him.
Tut how are you going TO manage
tins thing ?" he asked politely. ana !
saw had him on the hook at last.
"Ah, my dear sir, that is the secret.
You see. have the-the plan OF lit
tie device for Neutrality-suspicious., which,
i am cure YOU viii agree with ne, are
not worth handling by men OF really
large minds. Nevertheless, they hatch
out. Here is specimen.
drew the chicken from my pocket
and proudly displayed it. It's eyes were
shut, and couldn't get it to open them +;
ond its legs were still ; but there it was,
all the same.
"Aslecp,' l said, in explanation.
ugh ugh :" they exclaimed, put
ting their handkcrchiefs TO their noses.
saw that they were not interested
in chickens, and so cody returned it to
mypocket.
"AlligatOrs," ] began with dignity,
recalling something in an old school
reader. care oyIpmOus animals, laying
fifty to sixty eggs in litter. All we
have TO DO is to capture pair and let
them begin laying. You are financier,
my dear sir.
/ picked up a steel-eraser from the
desk and jabbed it in the air to en-
phasize my statement The three men,
who were standing, stepped back lit
tie, and the railroad president jumped
out OF his chair and backed up against
the wall Again / saw the queer look
in their eyes, and this time / under
stood it Every onaof them was stark,
staring mad.
This horrible discovery SO dumb
founded me that / did not know wnai
to do. Then | made dash for win
dow, but somebody caught me from
behind. ! fought desperately, bat il
was no use they were too strong for
ne. In less time than It takes to tell
it | was oyorpowerel, dragged down
stairs, put into carriage, snd was soon
rafting away over the co5blcst0nes.
When / came to look at my captOrs
] saw that their faces had changed.
They wore blue coats and brass but
tons aud looked like soldiers. !
begged them to let me go, and tried to
explain the matter to them. One OF
them snickered, and the other wouldn't
look at ne. 1t was plain that ne was
deof and dUmb. They took me to e
big Luilding and into large room.
where three men were sitting on n
raised platform They asked me some
very courteous questions, and | an
swtrod them az politely as knew how.
some THINKS they asked me-simple
inQuilies. o-bOtheTcd me most un
acCoun,ahly. What was my name.
where did / live, how old was 7 ? Ii
hey would only get into business mat
tccs ] knew my head was clear there.
4 new man came into the room,
small but powerfully built, aud looking
like a professional! man. There was d
good deal of Misunderstanding. One OF
the three said to him in a low voice
"Glad You came in just now Got a
curious case. lou question him. ~
In few minutes the stranger turned
to me and began 10 talk. lie had such
kind, genial face that l warmed to
him at once. Here wasa man to trust.
one who would appreciate the glory Of
becoming an alligator kng-one who
would push the enterprise ahead wi,h a
will worthy Of such a glorionscause. 4
got bin OF into a corner and bean to
develop MY scheme. He asscuted at
first. but presently | noticed that he
had lost interest in what was saying.
and was exchanging signs with the
others.
ALI I had him at last The demon
The arch-fend who was prosecuting M
and driving me TO ruin. Anger rose
about and within lie like 4 dark'cloud.
J sprang at his throat. They were all
upon me trying to hold me back, but
fought like atiSor. just managed
to lay his check open with my nails.
when ny brain seemed to seethe and
bubble. was falling-fallinS-fallln9.
OF what occurred next have only the
faintest recollection. was shut up in
a room with only one window, and that
high up in the wall. l cared neither to
eat, drink. nor sleep There were hor-
rible noises around me, and some Of
them ! made myself. Still that awful
sense of pressure and Of weight upon
nv broiu. / could not think connect
edIy, and / gave up trying.
One morning | awOkc q new man. \
barof sunshine fell through my win
dow, end ! could have Rnelt and wor-
sh;Upcd It, so beautiful did it appear.
1t seemed to LIT NE up and restore me.
The ugly SenseOf pressure was all gone.
I locked about me- and tried to rem m
Der how | came there. The room was
diseustingly dirty. There was little
furniture in IT, and what was there was
# sort | had never seen before.
II. 60 h. ,icor ! Turmoil tbe l-uoh
To my surprise it was locked. J beat
upon il and called out for some one to
open it. There was Il narrow grating
in the centre, and at this grating mans
.ace appeared.
Why don't You open the door ?" l
asked. quietly. He looked at me oddly
for a nome ut, snd then disappeared.
! few minutes later he returned with
another man. l recognized him III u
moment. lie was the man / hal as
sanlted. An alderman than thought,
his shou!deisa little bowed and his hair
quite gray. declare ] folt ashamed
OF myself when he opened the door and
came in.
"Well, Mr.. -" he looked at me
quite curiously.
"Brown, sir, james Brown | said
prom pity.
What can do for you today,
Brown" be said kindly. still keeping
his eye uron ne with that keen, search
ing look. .,
81 must 90 homo, SIR l said
N. a